St. Landry democrat., 1887-12-17

bllatlOn. Inc peOlle can lidIuiE hoPG iol
any consideration III the operation OF these
selfish schemes.
IT, however, in the absence of such COM
bination, a healthy and free competition re-
duces the price OF any particular dutlable
article of home production, below the limit
which it might otherwise reach under our
tariff laws, and if, with such reduced price,
its manufacture continues to thrive 1t is en-
tirely evident that one thing has been dis
covered which should be carefully scrutl-
niZed in all effort to reduce taxation. The
necessity of combination to maintain the
price of any commodity to the tariff point,
furnishes proof that some one is Wiling TO
accept lower prices for such commodity, and
that such prices are remunerative; and lower
prices produced by competition prove the
same thing. Thus where either of these
conditions exist, q case would seem to be
presented for an easy reduction OF taxation.
The considerations which have been pre-
sented touching our tariff laws are intended
only to enforce an earnest recommendation
that the surplus revenues of the government
be prevented by the reduction of our GUS
toms duties, and, at the same time, to EN-
phasize a suggestion that in accomplishing
this purpose we may discharge double duty
to our people by granting to them measure
of relief from tariff taxation IN quarters
where it is most needed and from sources
where it can be most fairly and justly ac-
corded. 0Nor can the presentation made OF
such considerations be, with any degree of
fairness regarded as evidence OF untrlendll-
ness toward our manufacturing interests, or
of any lack of Ofapprecation OF their value and
Importance.
The difficulty attending wise and fair re-
vision of our tariff laws is not understood.
1t will require on the part of Congress great
labor and care and especially a broad and
national contemplation of the subject and a
patriotic disregard of such local and selfish
claims as are unreasonable and reckless OF
the welfare of the entire country.
Under our present laws more than 1000
articles are subject to duty. Many of these
do not in any way compete with our own
manufactures, and many are hardly worth
attention as subjects Of revenue. y COnSld-
cradle reduction can be made in the aggre
gate, by adding to them free list. The tax
alton of luXures presents no features O
hardship; but the necessarieS of life used
and consumed by all the people, the duty
upon which added to the cost OF living III
every home, should be greatly cheapened.
The radical reduction OF the duties inn
posed upon raw material used i'll manutac-
lures, or its free importation, is of course an
important factor in any effort to reduce the
price of these nece>SarleS II would not only
relieve them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the man
utactured product being thus cheapened,
that part of the tariff now laid upon such
product, as a compensation to our manu-
facturers for the present price OF raw ma
terial. could be accordingly modified. Such
reduction, or free importation, would serve
beside to largely reduce the revenue. 1t IS
not apparent how such change can have
any injurious effect upon our manutaC-
turers. On the contrary, it would appear 10
give them a better chance in foreign markets
with the manufacturers of other countries,
who cheaper their wares by free material.
II l. ,,,.iN+ l,,-n Jn .NyNyt.
tunity of extending their sales beyond the
limits of home consumpti0n-saving them
from the depression interruption in business
and loss caused by a glutted domestic market,
and affording their employees more certain
and steady labor, with its resulting quiet
and contentment. The question Of free trade
is absolutely irrelevant; and the persistent
claim made in certain quarters, that all
efforts to relieve the people from unjust and
unnecessary taxation are schemes of so-called
freetraders is mschievous and far removed
from any consideration for the public good.
The simple and plain duty which we owe
the people is to reduce taxation to the neceS-
sary expenses of an economical operation OF
the government, and to restore to the busl-
ness Of the country the money which we
hold in the treasury through the perverSion
of governmental powers. These things can
and should be done with safety to all our in
dustries, without danger to the opportunity
for remunerative labor which our working
men need. and with benefit to them and all
our people, by cheapening their means OF
subsistence and increasing the measure OF
their comforts.
The constitution provides that the Presi-
dent ''shall, from time to time, give to the
Congress information Of the state of the
UniOn.' 1t has been the custom of the eX-
ecutive, in compliance with this provision,
to annually exhibit to the Congress, at the
opening of its session, the general condi-
ton of the country, and to detail, with some
particularly. the operations of the eXecu-
tive departments. 1t would be especially
agreeable to follow this course at the present
time, and to call attention to the valuable
accomplishments of these departments dur
ing the last fiscal year. Bnt | am so much
impressed with the paramount Importance
of the subject to which this communication
has thus far been devoted that shall forego
the addition of any other topic, and only
urge upon your immediate consideration the
state of the Union as shown in the pres
ent condition of our treasury and our gen
eral fiscal situation, uponwhich every element
of our safety and prosperity depends.
The reports of the heads of departments.
which will be submitted contain full and
explicit information touching the transac-
ton of the business intrusted to them, and
such recommendations relating to legisla-
Gloii III tllc puDllC llleItSt do IllSf uSClL dci-
visable. | ask for these reports and recon-
mendations the deliberate examination and
action of the legislative branch of the gov
ernment
There are other subjects not embraced in
the departmental reports demanding legs-
lative consideration, and which | should be
glad to submit. Some of them, however,
have been earnestly presented in previous
messages, and as to them | beg leave to re-
peat prior recommendations.
AS the law makes no provision for any
report from the Department of State, brief
history of the transactions of the important
department, together with other matters
which it may hereafter be deemed essential
to commend to the attention Of Congress,
may furnish the occasion for future COM
municatiOn. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Washington, December 6, 1887.